U.S. patent application number 12/935091 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-15 for hair-growth adjusting light emitting device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Panasonic Electric Works, Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chosei Hamada, Masato Kinoshita, Kaname Okuno, Yasuhiro Satou, Kaori Suzuki, Masako Yamasaki.
Application Number | 20120065708 12/935091 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40691385 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120065708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kinoshita; Masato ; et
al. |
March 15, 2012 |
HAIR-GROWTH ADJUSTING LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE
Abstract
A hair-growth adjusting light emitting device includes a device
body, a light-emitting unit attached to the device body, and a
locking unit for locking the light-emitting unit to the device
body. The device body has a main capacitor, a device body
connector, an electric power switch, a release switch, and an
electric power supplying part. The light-emitting unit has a
light-emitting body and a light-emitting body side connector.
Furthermore, the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
includes a release restriction mechanism for preventing the
light-emitting unit from being released by the release button when
the electric power switch is at a power-on position where the
electric power supplying part feeds the electric power to the main
connector, and a power-on restriction mechanism for preventing the
electric power switch from moving to the power-on position when the
light-emitting unit is detached from the device body.
Inventors: |
Kinoshita; Masato; (Osaka,
JP) ; Hamada; Chosei; (Osaka, JP) ; Satou;
Yasuhiro; (Hyogo, JP) ; Okuno; Kaname; (Hyogo,
JP) ; Yamasaki; Masako; (Hyogo, JP) ; Suzuki;
Kaori; (Osaka, JP) |
Assignee: |
Panasonic Electric Works, Co.,
Ltd.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
40691385 |
Appl. No.: |
12/935091 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
March 26, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2009/005070 |
371 Date: |
March 30, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N 5/0617 20130101;
A61N 2005/0654 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
607/88 |
International
Class: |
A61N 5/06 20060101
A61N005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-087881 |
Claims
1. A hair-growing adjusting light emitting device, comprising: a
device body, a light-emitting unit removably attached to the device
body, and a locking unit for locking the light-emitting unit to the
device body; wherein the device body comprises: an electric power
supplying part, a first connector electrically connected to the
electric power supplying part, an electric power switch that
switches ON and OFF of an electric power supplied from the electric
power supplying part to the first connector, and a release member
for releasing the lock of the light-emitting unit by the locking
unit; the light-emitting unit comprises: a light emitting body for
irradiating a human skin with light for adjusting growth of body
hair, and a second connector electrically connected to the first
connector when the light-emitting unit is locked to the device
body, and feeding electric power from the first connector to the
light emitting body; and the hair-growing adjusting light emitting
device further comprises: a release restriction mechanism for
preventing the lock of the light-emitting unit from being released
by the release member in the state where the electric power switch
is at a power-on position where the electric power supplying part
feeds the electric power to the first connector, and a power-on
restriction mechanism for preventing the electric power switch from
moving to the power-on position in the state where the
light-emitting unit is detached from the device body.
2. The hair-growing adjusting light emitting device as set forth in
claim 1, wherein the electric power supplying part comprises: a
booster circuit part for boosting electric power from an electric
power source; a capacitor part for accumulating the boosted
electric power and supplying the accumulated electric power to the
first connector; a discharge circuit part for discharging the
electric power accumulated in the capacitor part; and a discharge
control part for controlling the discharge circuit part to
discharge the electric power in the capacitor part in the state
where the electric power switch is at a power-off position where
the electric power supplying part stops feeding the electric power
to the first connector.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a hair-growth adjusting light
emitting device that irradiates a human skin with light for
adjusting growth of body hair.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, it is known that a hair-growth adjusting
light emitting device irradiates a human skin with light emitted
from a light-emitting body, such as a flash lamp, to promote growth
of body hair, thereby performing depilation or hair fostering.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-278724
discloses a hair-growth adjusting light emitting device that
includes a casing gripped by a user, and a light-emitting body,
such as a flash lamp, accommodated therein. The user grips the
casing such that a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting
body is directed to a portion of the human skin at which growth of
body hair is needed to be suppressed or promoted. In this state,
light is emitted from the light-emitting body, thereby performing
depilation or hair fostering. In such hair-growth adjusting light
emitting devices, the light-emitting body is deteriorated every
time when irradiating. The deteriorated light-emitting body should
preferably be replaced when the number of the irradiation times
exceeds a predetermined value in order to perform effective
depilation or hair fostering. From cost and environmental points of
view, only the deteriorated light-emitting body is preferably
replaced by a new one, not the whole hair-growth adjusting light
emitting device.
[0003] By the way, the light-emitting body needs to be fastened in
suitable relation to optical components such as a shade for
reflecting the light from the light-emitting body and a lens for
diffusing or collecting the light from the light-emitting body.
Supposed that the light-emitting body and the optical components
are combined to form a light-emitting unit, in the case where the
deteriorated light-emitting body is replaced by a new one, the
light-emitting unit may be used as the new one, thereby making it
easy to replace the light-emitting body.
[0004] The light-emitting body in the light-emitting unit is
configured such that a high voltage is applied thereto. Therefore,
when replacing the light-emitting unit, for example, it is
necessary to fully pay attention to an occurrence of sparks in an
electric contact due to the high voltage. Accordingly, a
replacement work of the light-emitting unit needs an operator who
has received training for the replacement. As a result, there are
some disadvantages that users without expert knowledge of electric
appliances can hardly carry out the replacement by themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention has been conceived in view of the
above-mentioned disadvantages, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
in which a light-emitting unit can be replaced safely.
[0006] The hair-growth adjusting light emitting device of the
present invention includes a device body, a light-emitting unit
removably attached to the device body, and a locking unit for
locking the light-emitting unit to the device body. The device body
includes an electric power supplying part, a first connector
electrically connected to the electric power supplying part, an
electric power switch that switches ON and OFF of the electric
power supplied from the electric power supplying part to the first
connector, and a release button for releasing the lock of the
light-emitting unit by the locking unit. The light-emitting unit
includes a light-emitting body for irradiating a human skin with
light for adjusting growth of body hair, a second connector
electrically connected to the first connector when the
light-emitting unit is locked to the device body and feeding
electric power from the first connector to the light-emitting body.
The hair-growth adjusting light emitting device further includes a
release restriction mechanism for preventing the lock of the
light-emitting unit from being released by the release button in
the state where the electric power switch is at a power-on position
where the electric power supplying part feeds the electric power to
the first connector is turned on, and a power-on restriction
mechanism for preventing the electric power switch from moving to
the power-on position in the state where the light-emitting unit is
detached from the device body.
[0007] According to the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
of the present invention, the light-emitting unit cannot be
detached when the electric power switch is at the power-on
position. Moreover, in the state where the light-emitting unit is
removed, it is impossible to move the electric power switch to the
power-on position. Accordingly, when a user, even if without expert
knowledge of electric appliances, replaces the light-emitting unit,
it is possible to prevent a dangerous occurrence, like sparking in
an electric contact, with reliability. Consequently the replacement
work is carried out safely.
[0008] Furthermore, in the hair-growth adjusting light emitting
device with the above-mentioned configuration, the electric power
supplying part preferably includes a booster circuit part for
boosting electric power from an electric power source, a capacitor
for accumulating the boosted electric power and supplying the
accumulated electric power to the first connector, a discharge
circuit for discharging the electric power accumulated in the
capacitor, a discharge control part for controlling the discharge
circuit to discharge the electric power in the capacitor when the
electric power switch is switched to a power-off position where the
electric power supplying part stops feeding the electric power to
the first connector. Such manners may bring more safety to the
hair-growth adjusting light emitting device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a hair-growth
adjusting light emitting device according to the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the hair-growth adjusting light
emitting device with a light emitting body removed from a device
body;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the hair-growth adjusting light
emitting device;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing main sections of the
release restriction mechanism and the power-on restriction
mechanism of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device;
[0013] FIG. 5A is an explanatory view (top view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device when
being turned on;
[0014] FIG. 5B is an explanatory view (perspective view) showing a
main section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
when being turned on;
[0015] FIG. 5C is an explanatory view (side view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device when
being turned on;
[0016] FIG. 6A is an explanatory view (top view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device when
being turned off;
[0017] FIG. 6B is an explanatory view (perspective view) showing a
main section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
when being turned off;
[0018] FIG. 6C is an explanatory view (side view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device when
being turned off;
[0019] FIG. 7A is an explanatory view (top view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device in the
state where the release button is pushed in;
[0020] FIG. 7B is an explanatory view (perspective view) showing a
main section of the above hair-growth adjusting light emitting
device in the state where the release button is pushed
[0021] FIG. 7C is an explanatory view (side view) showing a main
section of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device in the
state where the release button is pushed in;
[0022] FIG. 8A is an explanatory view (top view) of a main section
showing the state of detaching the light-emitting unit of the
hair-growth adjusting light emitting device;
[0023] FIG. 8B is an explanatory view (perspective view) of a main
section showing the state of detaching the light-emitting unit of
the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device;
[0024] FIG. 8C is an explanatory view (side view) of a main section
showing the state of detaching the light-emitting unit of the
hair-growth adjusting light emitting device; and
[0025] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view (perspective view) of a main
section showing the state where the light-emitting unit of the
hair-growth adjusting light emitting device is removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Hereinafter, a hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a whole configuration of the hair-growth
adjusting light emitting device of the present embodiment. FIG. 3
shows a block diagram of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting
device of the present embodiment. The hair-growth adjusting light
emitting device of the present embodiment includes a device body 1
which a user can grip by one hand, a light-emitting unit 2
removably attached to the device body 1, and a locking unit 3 for
locking the light-emitting unit 2 to the device body 1. In the
present embodiment, the terms of "upward and downward", "left and
right", and "forward and backward", which indicate directions of
the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device, are defined as
follows. The "upward and downward" direction of the hair-growth
adjusting light emitting device corresponds to a longitudinal
direction of the paper in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., the upward direction
denotes a direction in which the light-emitting unit 2 is
positioned relative to the device body 1. The "left and right"
direction of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
corresponds to a transverse direction of the paper in FIGS. 1 and
2, i.e., it denotes the direction in which two release buttons
14,14 are connected with a line. The "forward and backward"
direction of the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the paper plane in
FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., the front side denotes a side in which an
electric power switch 12 as described later is provide, among sides
of a body casing 7.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the device body 1 has a body
casing 7, a device body side connector 11 as a first connector, an
electric power supplying part, an electric power switch 12, and a
release button 14. The electric power supplying part has an
electric power source 8, a main capacitor part 9, a booster circuit
part 10, a discharge circuit part 15, and a control part 25 as a
discharge control part. The light-emitting unit 2 has a
light-emitting body 17 and a light-emitting body side connector 21
as a second connector.
[0028] The body casing 7 has a box-shape with an inner cavity. The
body casing 7 accommodates the electric power source 8, the main
capacitor part 9, the booster circuit part 10, and the device body
side connector 11 in the cavity. The electric power source 8 may
utilize a commercial dry cell. The booster circuit part 10 boosts
the voltage, which is supplied from the electric power source 8, up
to a voltage needed to cause a light emission of the light-emitting
body 17, then feeding the boosted voltage to the main capacitor
part 9. The main capacitor part 9 accumulates the boosted electric
power and feeds the accumulated electric power to the connector 11
simultaneously, when the electric power switch 12 is turned on. The
connector 11 is exposed in an upper end side of the body casing 7
through an opening thereof, and connected electrically to the
light-emitting body side connector 21 when the light-emitting unit
2 is locked to the device body 1. The connectors 11, 21 are made of
conductive materials, for example, metal. It is noted that, for the
electric power source 8, various things, such as a battery charger
and a battery for exclusive use, are available besides a dry cell.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the body casing 7 has, for
example, an approximately tubular shape with an elliptic section so
that a user can grip it easily.
[0029] The electric power switch 12, which is operated by a user,
and an irradiation switch 13 are disposed in the front side of the
body casing 7, being exposed. The electric power switch 12 is
provided so as to slide freely in the upward and downward direction
along the front side of the body casing 7. The electric power
switch 12 switches between ON and OFF operations of the electric
power supplying part in accordance with the slide positions. That
is, the electric power supplying part feeds electric power from the
booster circuit part 10 to the main capacitor part 9, when the
electric power switch 12 is in an upper position (power-on
position) within the front surface of the body casing 7. On the
other hand, the electric power supplying part stops feeding the
electric power to the main capacitor part 9, when the electric
power switch 12 is in a lower position (power-off position) within
the front surface of the body casing 7. An irradiation switch 13
switches between ON and OFF irradiation of light-emitting body 17,
when the electric power switch 12 is in the power-on position.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a locking unit 3 includes a pair
of locked parts 4, a pair of locking parts 5, and a pair of biasing
members 6. The locked parts 4, 4 extend downwardly from the
light-emitting unit 2, and the lower ends thereof are bent
outwardly in the right and left direction, forming a pair of right
and left hooks. In order to lock the locked parts 4, 4, the locking
parts 5, 5 are provided in the device body 1, and the upper ends
thereof are bent inwardly in the right and left direction, forming
a pair of right and left hooks. The locking part 5 has a pivotal
shaft at a center portion in a longitudinal direction thereof. The
pivotal shaft is fixed to the device body 1 along the forward and
backward direction of hair-growth adjusting light emitting device.
By the pivotal shaft, the locking part 5 moves pivotally about the
pivotal shaft in a seesaw fashion relative to the device body 1.
The biasing member 6 is configured by a compression spring and
attached to an upper end portion of the locking part 5 so as to be
interposed between the locking part 5 and the body casing 7. The
biasing member 6 constantly presses the upper end portion of the
locking part 5 toward the inner side of the body casing 7. Thereby,
in the state where the light-emitting unit 2 is attached to the
device body 1, the upper end portion of the locking part 5 is
constantly urged against the locked part 4 to maintain the locked
condition between the locked part 4 and the locking part 5. That
is, the locking unit 3 locks the light-emitting unit 2 to the
device body 1 by engaging the lower end portion of the locked part
4, which is bended into an L shape, with the upper end portion of
the locking part 5. The configuration for releasing the lock will
be described later.
[0031] The body casing 7 includes a pair of the right and left
release buttons, which are freely projected or recessed, in both of
the right and left sides thereof. A portion of the release button
14 is exposed at the outside of the body casing 7, and the exposed
portion is operated by a user. In the body casing 7, the release
button 14 is in contact with the lower end part of the locking part
5, i.e., a portion opposite to the upper end portion with which the
biasing member 6 contacts, with respect to the pivotal shaft.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, a control part 25 accommodated in the
body casing 7 has a booster circuit part 10, a main capacitor part
9, and a discharge circuit part 15 for discharging the electric
charge accumulated in the main capacitor part 9 to be zero. The
control part 25 receives operation signals of the electric power
switch 12 and the irradiation switch 13, and controls the light
emission of the light-emitting unit 2 based on each of the received
operation signals.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, a unit casing 16 of the light-emitting
unit 2 accommodates a light-emitting body 17 and a shade 18
therein. The light-emitting body 17 may utilize a flashlight that
is composed of a xenon lamp, and the light has a function of
adjusting growth of body hair (the function that controls growth of
body hair in the present embodiment). The shade 18 is provided at a
lower side of the light-emitting body 17, and reflects the light
emitted from the light-emitting body 17 towards a light emitting
direction "A" which denotes the upward direction in the figure. A
light emitting opening 19 is formed in the portion that is located
in the upper end of the unit casing 16 in the light emitting
direction "A" of the light-emitting body 17. A transparent window
20 is installed in the light emitting opening 19 and the light from
the light-emitting body 17 is emitted to outside through the window
20.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 21 is exposed from the
lower end of the unit case 16. The connector 21, which is
electrically connected to the light-emitting body 17, is connected
electrically to the connector 11 of the device body 1 when the
light-emitting unit 2 is locked to the device body 1. That is, in
the state where the light-emitting unit 2 is locked to the device
body 1, the light-emitting body 17 is electrically connected to the
main capacitor part 9 within the body casing 7 through the
connector 11 and the connector 21.
[0035] An operation for obtaining hair growth control effects by
using the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device with the
above configuration will be described below. Firstly, in the state
where the light-emitting unit 2 is locked to the device body 1 as
shown in FIG. 1, a user slides up the electric power switch 12 to
turn on the electric power source. When the electric power switch
12 is powered on, the main capacitor part 9 accumulates electric
charges. Secondly, the user makes the light emitting direction "A"
of light-emitting unit 2 directed to a skin of the human body (not
shown), a target for treatment, and then presses the upper end
surface of the unit case 16 against the skin. When the user pushes
the irradiation switch 13 to be turned on, electric power is fed to
the light-emitting body 17 from the main capacitor part 9 through
the connector 11 and the connector 21, and then a pulse of light is
emitted. Most of the light from the light-emitting body 17 travels
toward the light emitting direction "A", and is emitted through the
window 20 to outside. On the other hand, the remaining light, not
traveling toward the light emitted direction "A", is reflected by
the shade 11 and is emitted through the window 20 to outside.
[0036] The procedure of replacing the light-emitting unit 2 of the
hair-growth adjusting light emitting device with the
above-mentioned configuration will be described below. At first,
the user pushes inwardly the release buttons 14, which are located
in both of right and left sides of the body casing 7, in the right
and left direction. When the release button 14 is pushed into the
body casing 7 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a lower portion of the
locking part 5 is pressed by the bottom of the release button 14.
The locking part 5 moves pivotally about the pivotal shaft against
the biasing force of the biasing member 6, and the upper end
portion thereof is moved toward the side wall of the body casing 7.
With such movement, as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the engagement
between the locked part 4 and the locking part 5 is released, and
the light-emitting unit 2 can be detached from the device body
1.
[0037] Furthermore, the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
of the present embodiment includes a release restriction mechanism
30 that controls an operation of releasing the lock of the
light-emitting unit 2 by the release button 14, and a power-on
restriction mechanism 40 that controls an operation of turning on
the electric power source by the electric power switch 12.
[0038] The release restriction mechanism 30 is a mechanical control
means capable of releasing the lock of the light-emitting unit 2 by
the release button 14, only when the electric power switch 12 is in
a power-off position. In other words, the release restriction
mechanism 30 prevents the lock of the light-emitting unit 2 from
being released by the release button 14 when the electric power
switch 12 is in the power-on position. As specifically shown in
FIG. 4, the release restriction mechanism 30 includes a pair of
arms 31 with an L shape, a pair of release restriction members 32,
and a pair of biasing members 33. The arms 31, 31 with an L shape
extend from the electric power switch 12 to both of the right and
left sides of the body casing 7. The release restriction member 32
is disposed within the body casing 7 so as to move freely in the
forward and backward direction. When the electric power switch 12
is in the power-on position, the release restriction member 32 is
pushed up to the front side of the body casing 7 by the arm 31, and
then reaches to a release prohibiting position. Herein, the release
prohibiting position is located in an upper side (the front side of
the body casing 7) relative to the release restriction member 32
within the body casing 7. The biasing member 33 is configured by a
compression spring biasing the release restriction member 32 from
the release prohibiting position to the backside of the body casing
7. That is, in the power-off state, the release restriction member
32 is pressed toward the backside of the body casing 7 by the
biasing member 33. In the power-on state, the release restriction
member 32 is pushed up to the front side of the body casing 7 by
the arm 31 against the biasing force of the biasing member 33.
[0039] Note that the release prohibiting position of release
restriction member 32 in the present embodiment denotes a position
satisfying the following two states (first and second states) at
the same time. Namely, in the first state, the release restriction
member 32, the lower portion of the locking part 5, and the release
button 14 are lined up in this order along the right and left
direction of the body casing 7, as shown in FIG. 2. In the second
state, these three members are arranged within the surface
perpendicular to the forward and backward direction of the body
casing 7, as shown in FIG. 5. When the release restriction member
32 is in the release prohibiting position, the locking part 5
cannot move pivotally due to the release restriction member 32
contacting therewith, even when the release button 14 pushes the
lower end part thereof. Accordingly, the locking part 5 cannot be
released from the engagement with the locked member 4 and the
light-emitting unit 2 cannot be detached from the device body
1.
[0040] The power-on restriction mechanism 40 is a mechanical
control means for enabling the electric power switch 12 to turn on
the electric power source only when the light-emitting unit 2 is
locked to the device body 1, while preventing the electric power
switch 12 from being turned on when the light-emitting unit 2 is
detached from the device body 1. As specifically shown in FIG. 4,
the power-on restriction mechanism 40 includes a power-on
restriction member 41 and a biasing member 42. FIG. 4 shows the
state where the electric power switch 12 is in the power-off
position. The power-on restriction member 41 is provided movably
along the forward and backward direction of the body casing 7. When
the light-emitting unit 2 is locked to the device body 1, the
power-on restriction member 41 is pushed backwardly in the forward
and backward direction by the tip of the locked member 4 contacting
with the power-on restriction member 41. When the power-on
restriction member 41 is in a power-on prohibiting position, the
electric power switch 12 contacts with the power-on restriction
member 41, so that it cannot be moved. With this configuration, the
user cannot slide the electric power switch 12, thereby disabling
to turn on, even if trying to slide the electric power switch 12
from the lower position (power-off position) to the upper position
(power-on position) for powering on. Note that the power-on
prohibiting position denotes a forward position relative to the
power-on restriction member 41 in the forward and backward
direction of the body casing 7, and a power-on possible position
denotes a backward position in the forward and backward direction
of the body casing 7. The biasing member 42 is also configured by a
compression spring that energizes for pushing the power-on
restriction member 41 to the power-on prohibiting position, when
the light-emitting unit 2 is detached from device body 1.
[0041] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, there will be
described the operation of detaching the light-emitting unit 2 from
the device body 1.
[0042] FIGS. 5A to 5C show the state where the light-emitting unit
2 is attached to the device body 1. Firstly, in FIG. 5, the locked
member 4 is in contact with the power-on restriction member 41 to
depress the power-on restriction member 41 toward the backside of
the body casing 7. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, when being located
in the backside of the body casing 7, the power-on restriction
member 41 has no contact with the electric power switch 12.
Accordingly, the electric power switch 12 can slide to both the
power-on position and the power-off position. FIGS. 5A to 5C show
the state where the electric power switch 12 is in the power-on
position. Referring to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the release restriction
member 32 is pushed up to the front side position of the body
casing 7 by the arm 31, i.e., the release prohibiting position. The
lower end part of the locking part 5 and the release restriction
member 32 are brought into contact when the release restriction
member 32 is in the release prohibiting position. Therefore, the
locking part 5 cannot move pivotally even when being pushed by the
release button 14. Accordingly, in the state of FIGS. 5A to 5C,
even if the user pushes the release button 14, the light-emitting
unit 2 cannot be detached from the device body 1.
[0043] Secondly, the electric power switch 12 is slid down to the
power-off position and then powered off. At the time, as shown in
FIGS. 6A to 6C, since the arm 31 is separated from the release
restriction member 32, the biasing force of the biasing member 33
pushes the release restriction member 32 from the release
prohibiting position to the backside of the body casing 7. That is,
the locking part 5 has no contact with the release restriction
member 32, enabling to move pivotally, in the state where the
release restriction member 32 is pushed to the backside of the body
casing 7.
[0044] In this situation, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, when the
release button 14 is pushed in, the locking part 5 is released from
the engagement with the locked member 4 because it is moved
pivotally against the biasing force of the biasing member 6. As
shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, when the light-emitting unit 2 is drawn
out upwardly while the release button 14 is pushed in, the
light-emitting unit 2 can be detached from the device body 1.
[0045] As above mentioned, in the state where the electric power
switch 12 remains turned on, the release button 14 cannot be pushed
in due to the release restriction member 32 located at the release
prohibiting position. That is, the light-emitting unit 2 is surely
prevented from being detached from the device body 1 in the state
where the electric power source remains turned on.
[0046] In the state where the light-emitting unit 2 is removed from
device body 1 as shown in FIG. 9, the biasing force of the biasing
member 42 forces the power-on restriction member 41 to the power-on
prohibiting position. When the power-on restriction member 41 is in
the power-on prohibiting position, the electric power switch 12 is
brought into contact with the power-on restriction member 41, so
that it cannot be moved to the power-on position. That is, it is
surely prevented to turn on the electric power source in the state
where the connector 11 is exposed.
[0047] Furthermore, the hair-growth adjusting light emitting device
of the present embodiment further includes a discharge control part
50 that discharges the electric charges in the main capacitor part
9 by using the discharging circuit part 15, when the electric power
switch 12 is turned off. The discharge control part 50 has a
control part 25. The discharge control part 50 is configured to
turn off the electric power source based on operation signals from
the electric power switch 12 and, at the same time, discharge the
electric charges in the main capacitor part 9 by using the
discharging circuit part 15.
[0048] The hair-growth adjusting light emitting device with the
above-mentioned configuration includes the release restriction
mechanism 30, the power-on restriction mechanism 40, and the
discharge control part 50. The control part 25 discharges the
electric charges in the main capacitor part 9 every time when the
electric power switch 12 is turned off. Accordingly, even if a user
without expert knowledge of electric appliances replaces the
light-emitting unit, it is possible to prevent a dangerous
occurrence, like sparking in an electric contact, with
reliability.
[0049] The control part 25 may discharge the electric charges in
the main capacitor part 9 in synchronization with a push-in
movement of the release button 14. In this case, a release
detecting sensor (not shown) that detects the push-in movement of
the release button 14 may be provided in the device body 1, and the
control part 25 may allow the discharging circuit part 15 to
discharge the electric charges in the main capacitor part 9 based
on the detection signal of the release detecting sensor.
[0050] Furthermore, the light-emitting body 17 is not limited to a
flashlight made of a xenon light, and may utilize a flashlight with
any other configurations, or may emit a laser beam utilizing a
laser diode etc. Besides, the light-emitting body 17 may emit light
for obtaining hair-growing effects by promoting hair growth of body
hair.
[0051] While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
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